Photo: “M.C. Escher: Journey to Infinity”

While reading biographies is a great way to learn about famous figures from history, seeing their lives played out in films can offer a fresh perspective. Now, anyone interested in discovering more about their favorite artists, musicians, and cultural icons, can check out a playlist of documentaries from film distributor Kino Lorber. All 80 films—ranging from an hour to two hours long—are free to watch on YouTube.

Among this diverse collection of documentaries are features dedicated to much-loved creative figures like M.C. Escher. Directed by Robin Lutz and narrated by Stephen Fry, this film, titled M.C. Escher: Journey to Infinity, includes excerpts from the Dutch artist's letters and correspondence and insight into his legacy of tesselation art. Similarly, the program titled Hieronymus Bosch: Touched by the Devil offers a look at one of art history's more elusive painters responsible for creating the incomparable The Garden of Earthly Delights.

In addition to artists, this collection of documentaries also has content dedicated to world-renowned musicians like Elvis Presley. The hour-and-a-half-long film, titled Elvis: Return to Tupelo, walks through the entertainer’s humble beginnings in the South to his transformation into the “King of Rock and Roll.” Alternatively, the film Captured on Films: The True Story of Marion Davies, shines a light on the life and performances of 1920s comedy actress Marion Davies, narrated by Charlize Theron.

You can check out Kino Lorber's full playlist of documentaries on YouTube.

Film distributor Kino Lorber has made 80 documentaries free to watch on YouTube, covering art, music, and more.

Some of the videos cover artistic icons like M.C. Escher, Hieronymus Bosch, and Hilma af Klint.

You can find the full playlist of films available on YouTube.

h/t: [Open Culture]

All images via YouTube.

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READ: 80 Documentaries From Kino Lorber Are Free to Watch on YouTube

“Watch Your Back”

If you've ever checked out a library book, you may have come across something that belonged to the previous owner—whether it be a scribble or a bookmark. For nearly 10 years, library director Sharon McKellar has been archiving all of the numerous diverse items left behind in books at the Oakland Public Library, creating a fascinating glimpse into the lives of the people in her community. From child-drawn doodles to heartfelt postcards, these artifacts represent the ways people interacted with the library and its books.

This ongoing project is aptly called Found in a Library Book. McKellar was inspired to start blogging about the small collection of items she and other staff members found in 2013, when part of her job was overseeing the Oakland Public Library's website. From there, the idea took off, accumulating more and more interesting items along the way. “The project moved from being an occasional shared blog post to really just being a collection of scanned items on my computer and/or in my office until we moved to a new website that allowed the opportunity to showcase the found items as more of an archive or collection,” McKellar tells My Modern Met. “Some staff members have continually sent me their finds over the years, even when I wasn't doing anything official with them, but now that they are showcased on our website and social media and getting so much attention, the staff is sending me so much more. It's great!”

The project collects items from across Oakland's different library locations, most of which are not found by McKellar herself. “My roles in the library for the past 10 years have had me mostly in an office behind a computer screen, so this is a really fun way for me to remain connected to the branches, staff, and community,” she adds. Since the archive has expanded so much—with new items added regularly—McKellar's favorite finds change all the time. “This amazing one was found, relatively recently, in a VERY old scrapbook in our incredible Oakland History Center and it's brilliant and so cool. [It's] an advertisement for a horse for sale with a hand-drawn horse,” she says about the item “Faithful Old Tom.” Another recent stand-out piece is a hand-drawn bookmark, cataloged under the name “Robot Daddy.” The small pencil-rendered robot is paired with a speech bubble that reads, “Calculating. I love beer.”

Many of the things McKellar and other library staff find are amusing in some way, especially the notes and doodles made by children. However, they also find heartfelt postcards and notes, such as “this is then and this is now,” which states that the sender tried to get in touch with the recipient over 30 times. In addition, the small yellow notebook titled “because more freedom,” features “a young person's notes taken when interviewing their grandmother about her life pre and post-immigration to America.” Together, all of these belongings highlight the diversity of Oakland's community.

You can check out more from the Found in a Library Book archive via Oakland Public Library's website.

Director of the Oakland Public Libary Sharon McKellar archives things that she discovers in library books.

“Faithful Old Tom”

“Robot Daddy”

“that was then and this is now”

“that was then and this is now”

The ongoing project, titled Found in a Libary Book, includes postcards, bookmarks, and notes that people left behind in the books they checked out.

“Have a Toast”

“No Time for This!”

“Main”

“because more freedom”

“Free Will”

“Bodice Ripper”

Sharon McKellar: Website
Oakland Public Library: Website

My Modern Met granted permission to feature photos by Sharon McKellar | Oakland Public Library.

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Photo: Khara Woods
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If you’re creating amazing art but struggling to gain exposure, art contests are a great opportunity for publicity. And if you’re living the infamous “starving artist” lifestyle, this is also a way to pull yourself out of a rough spot by potentially winning cash prizes, allowing you to gain an extra financial boost towards your dream creative projects.

There are loads of different competitions out there, from world-renowned painting contests to inspiring digital art challenges, that will place you in the art world. With so much to choose from, we’ve created a guide to help you decide which visual arts competitions are best suited to you and your artistic talents. Depending on your eligibility, you can try for these annual awards year after year.

Ready to show off your art to the world? Check out our guide to some of the best art contests to enter this year.

Painting Competitions

Photo: Daian Gan

Watermedia Showcase

Prize: $2,500 first prize, $1,250 second prize.
Entry Fee: $35 ($30 before February 6, 2023).
Requirements: Open to international artists 18 years of age and older.
Closing Date: April 11, 2023

The Watermedia Showcase awards original art created primarily with water-based media (watercolor, acrylic, casein, gouache, or egg tempera) on a surface created for water media. Judged by the editors of Watercolor Artist, all winners, and honorable mentions will have their work featured in the magazine.

Enter now

Jackson's Painting Prize

Prize: £6,000 first prize
Entry Fee: £5 per entry.
Requirements: Open to international artists of all ages.
Closing Date: March 1, 2023

Jackson's Painting Prize was created to reward excellence in two-dimensional works of fine art. Both painting and drawing media are accepted and in addition to the main prize, there are also awards for emerging artists, best watercolor, and people's choice. Entries open December 1, 2022 and close March 1, 2023.

Enter now

Digital Art Contests

Photo: Howard Lawrence B

The Lumen Prize for Digital Art

Prize: $4,000 first prize, with a $13,500 total prize fund.
Entry Fee: $40 for two works ($32 for two works if submitted prior to March 24).
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: June 3, 2023

This digital art competition is organized by Lumen Art Projects Ltd, a non-profit organization that’s dedicated to providing new opportunities for digital artists around the world. The contest guidelines are relatively loose—the only requirement is that the submitted artworks must somehow engage with technology. Categories include Still, Moving Image, XR, 3D/Interactive and Artificial Intelligence. In 2023, there is even an award for NFT art. Several awards categories are also rewarded with artist residencies and exhibitions in addition to the cash prize.

Find out more.

animago Award

Prize: €3,000 cash prize for Best Young Production, all nominees provided lodging and tickets to animago.
Entry Fee: Free
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: TBD

For over 20 years the prestigious animago Award competition has spotlighted talent in the fields of 3d animation and stills, visual effects, visualization, and design. Organized by the German magazine Digital Production, all winners are announced during a gala at the annual animago conference in Munich, Germany. Though, due to the pandemic, animago has not taken place since 2019, artists are still encouraged to submit their work for the next time that the conference occurs.

Enter now

Illustration Contests

Photo: rawpixel

World Illustration Awards

Prize: A cash prize of £2,000 and more publicity opportunities.
Entry Fee: £29 (approximately $33)
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: February 14, 2023

Anyone who’s into illustration is bound to have heard of the prestigious World Illustration Awards. Illustrators are invited to submit work created or published since January 2018 to 8 different categories. Winners will not only win a cash prize, but they’ll also be awarded invaluable global exposure, such as a marketing package in the Directory of Illustration, a feature in a major exhibition in central London, and an invitation to the Awards Evening in October.

Enter now

Society of Illustrators Annual Competition

Prize: Medals, work published in a full-color catalog and displayed in an exhibition.
Entry Fee: $20 for members ($35 for non-members)
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide.
Closing Date: TBD

The Society of Illustrators Annual Competition is known as the premier showcase for illustrators and animators. Open to artists worldwide, work can be entered in one of the six categories: Editorial, Book, Advertising, Institutional, Uncommissioned, and Surface/ Product Design. The selected entries will be exhibited at the Society of Illustrators’ gallery in New York City and be printed in full color in their annual catalog. In addition to the entry fee, there is a hanging/publication fee of $90 for non-members and $80 for members.

Enter now

Drawing Contests

Photo: Stock Photos from Iuliia Tarabanova/Shutterstock

Strokes of Genius: The Best of Drawing

Prize: $2,000 first prize, $1,000 second prize
Entry Fee: $45 ($35 before March 22, 2021)
Requirements: Open to artists in the United States and Canada.
Closing Date: April 29, 2023

The Strokes of Genius Competition celebrates original work made in drawing mediums; including pencil, charcoal, Conté crayon, pen and ink, scratchboard, silverpoint, colored pencil, pastels, and even some wet paint mediums if used in a linear or sketchy manner. Winning entries plus an additional 85+ finalists will be published in a special edition publication, The Best of Drawing, from the editors of Artists Magazine.

Enter now

General Art Contests

Photo: Pixabay via Pexels

Artists Magazine Annual Art Competition

Prize: Over $29,000 in cash prizes and publication in Artists Magazine.
Entry Fee: $40 ($35 if submitted before April 3)
Requirements: Open to artists over 18 worldwide working in a traditional medium.
Closing Date: May 30, 2023

Artists Magazine’s Annual Art Competition celebrates traditional 2D artistic mediums such as painting, drawing, mixed media, printmaking, digital art, and much more. Winners will be chosen from a variety of categories including Portrait/Figure, Still Life, Landscape, Abstract, and Animal/Wildlife.

Along with generous cash prizes, this contest provides a huge opportunity to gain exposure—all winners’ work will be featured in the January/February 2023 issue of Artists Magazine.

Enter now

The Sunny Art Prize

Prize: A total cash fund of £6,000 plus a month-long art residency in China, and a solo exhibition in London.
Entry Fee: £25 for one artwork, up to £45 for four artworks.
Requirements: Open to artists worldwide age 18 and over.
Closing Date: June 30, 2023

One of the most inclusive and diverse art competitions in the UK, the Sunny Art Prize offers unique exposure for both emerging and established artists. Winners will be granted an opportunity to have their work shown in an exhibition in London, and develop their work during a month-long residency in China. A £6,000 (approximately $7,600) total cash prize will be split between the first three winning artists.

The art contest accepts entries in a diverse range of media including painting, drawing, sculpture, ceramic art, printmaking, installation art, mixed media, video art, and photography.

Enter now

Made in California Competition

Prize: $750 first prize, $500 second prize.
Entry Fee: $20 per entry
Requirements: Open to artists based in California.
Closing Date: February 16, 2023

Hosted by the Brea Gallery, the Made in California Competition provides a promotional opportunity for all artists based in the state of California. All mediums will be considered. And, in addition to the juried competition, there is also a solo show opportunity for artists who submit a body of work containing 5-10 pieces (the entry for the solo show is $80, and the prize is $350).

Enter now

This article has been edited and updated.

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Photo: Zaira Forman

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Whether you are a professional photographer looking to gain more exposure or an amateur who wants to know how your work stacks up against your peers, photography competitions are a fantastic way to stretch yourself and grow your craft. From free photo contests to paid photography awards, it's possible to invest as little—or as much—as you'd like. And sometimes, the rewards can be life-changing.

From cash prizes to traveling exhibitions at renowned institutions, the best photography contests give their participants the opportunity to show their best work to a wider audience. Most contests have separate professional and amateur divisions, as well as youth competitions for young photographers—and you don't always have to pay. Contests like the EyeEm Awards and the Smithsonian Photo Contest are free of charge, while others charge nominal fees to enter multiple photographs. Additionally, the deadlines for these challenges vary from the start of the year to late into the summer or even the fall.

With such a wide variety of photography competitions, you can decide whether you want to try your hand at one of the larger contests with a range of categories for all types of photography, such as the International Photo Awards, or go more niche. Underwater photography, architectural photography, astrophotography, wedding photography, and pet photography are just some competitions that let you hone in on specific aspects of the craft. Whether you win 1st place or become a finalist, these events will surely boost your creative practice.

To help you find what photo contest meets your needs, we've pulled together a list of the best photography competitions—in alphabetical order—that you'll want to consider entering. Over the years we've featured all of these contests, many times publishing early entries and finalists, in addition to winners—proving that you can gain valuable press coverage whether you win or not.

Our list of the best photography contests covers a wide range of photography from wildlife to fine art.

Matt Emmett, overall winner, Arcaid Photography Awards 2016. (Photo: Matt Emmett/Arcaid Images)

The Architectural Photography Awards

Architectural photographers compete in six categories—Exterior, Interior, Sense of Place, Portfolio, Mobile Architecture Photography, and Buildings in Use—for a chance at cash prizes and having their work exhibited at the World Architecture Festival.

When to enter: Annually from March to July
Entry fee: One-time registration of £55 allows entrants to submit up to 3 images to each category
Prize: $3,000 and exhibition at the World Architecture Festival.

Audubon Photography Awards

Combine your love of birds and photography by competing in the Audubon Photography Awards. Participants must be legal residents of the U.S. or Canada and at least 13 years of age. Winning photos will be published in the Audubon and Nature’s Best Photography magazines, as well as go on exhibit at the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History.

When to enter: Annually from January 11, 2023, to March 1, 2023
Entry fee: $15 per image; Youth competition is FREE
Prize: Cash prizes up to $5,000.

B&W Child Photo Competition

Celebrate the beauty of childhood across the world by submitting your most stunning black and white images of children. Photographers compete in four categories—Portrait, Fine Art, Lifestyle, and Documentary & Street. The contest accepts international entries and there is no limit on the number of submissions per photographer. It has two submission periods per year; the 1st half at the beginning and the 2nd half at the latter part of the year.

When to enter:1st half at the beginning of the year until July; 2nd half from August to the end of the year
Entry fee: €10 for a single image, €20 for 3 images, €30 for 5 images
Prize: €1,000 each for two Grand Prize winners, €100 for category winners.

Best of the Best Photo Contests for Weddings

Wedding photographers are encouraged to show off their best wedding images in annual contests run by Junebug Weddings. The theme for the contest changes with each competition.

When to enter: Varies depending on the contest
Entry fee: $28 for up to 15 images for non-members. Members can submit up to 3 photos for free or up to 15 images for $18
Prize: 50 winning entries are featured on the website, with a link to their blog.

BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition

Run by the California Academy of Sciences, this international photo contest celebrates “the rich diversity of life on Earth and inspires action to protect and conserve it through the power of imagery.” Photographers can submit work across seven different categories such as the art of nature, aquatic life, terrestrial wildlife, and winged life.

When to enter: Annually from December 2022, to March 1, 2023
Entry fee: $25 for up to 10 single image submissions in any category, $15 for 1 photo series (3-5 images)
Prize: $5,000 to the overall winner, $1,000 for category winners. Participation in an annual exhibit at the California Academy of Sciences.

Bird Photographer of the Year

This global competition asks wildlife photographers to submit their best bird photography across 9 categories, including best youth photographer. There are also two special prizes up for grabs—best portfolio and crowd choice. Participants can submit single photos or an entire portfolio.

When to enter: Annually from mid-August to the end of November
Entry fee: From £6, participants can enter up to 8 images per category
Prize: £5,000 for the grand prize winner, camera equipment for the portfolio prize winner (a £3,500 retail value), and a pair of Swarovski CL Companion 8×30 binoculars for category winners. All winners receive a portfolio review from the Director of Photography at Alamy.

Sasha Dudkina, EyeEm Photographer of the Year 2017. (Photo: Sasha Dudkina)

British Wildlife Photography Awards

Created to focus on the glory of British wildlife, photographers of all nationalities are encouraged to enter the contest, but their images must be taken in the United Kingdom. The 15 separate categories also include a prize for wildlife in HD video, and two separate prizes are awarded to young photographers. The top entries are included in a traveling exhibition across Britain, as well as a coffee table book.

When to enter: Annually from November to April of the next year
Entry fee: From £10; Youth competition (up to 6 images) is FREE
Prize: £5,000 for grand prize winner, while some adult category winners receive a cash prize of £500 and new camera equipment. The Wildlife in HD Video category will receive a new camcorder. The winning pictures and best entries will be included in a touring exhibition across the UK as well as a coffee table book.

Comedy Wildlife Photography Awards

If you like to see the humor in the natural world, this photography contest is for you. Founded by the wildlife charity, Born Free Foundation, the awards are a light-hearted way to bring attention to conservation issues. In addition to four categories for adults and a youth competition, videographers are encouraged to enter their funniest video clips. But note, photographs of domestic, captive or enclosed wildlife of any description are not allowed.

When to enter: Entries accepted through August 23, 2023
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: Overall winner receives a trophy and one-week safari in Kenya.

Dog Photographer of the Year

The Kennel Club, the UK’s largest organization focusing on the welfare of dogs, runs this annual, international contest. Photographers can enter in 10 categories, including Dog Portrait, Dogs at Play, Assistance Dogs, and Rescue Dogs. There are also two youth categories for young photographers.

When to enter: Annually from February to April
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: Overall winner receives a SmugMug business account and mentorship day with an acclaimed dog photographer. All winners will have their work displayed at the Kennel Club Art Gallery in London, as well as a prize package.

Drone Awards

Part of the Art Photo Travel Association, this worldwide competition is open to aerial photography and videos whose platforms also include “fixed-wing aircraft, helicopters, unmanned aerial vehicles, balloons, blimps and dirigibles, rockets, kites, and parachutes.”

When to enter: Entries are accepted from April to June.
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: The Drone Photographer of the Year will be awarded a prize package that includes €500,00 worth of photography equipment and more.

EyeEm Awards

This leading photo community, which also licenses images, runs what they call the largest photo competition for rising photographers. They annually award prizes in 10 categories, including The Street Photographer, The Great Outdoors, The Portraitist, The Photojournalist, and The Architect. Additionally, the Photographer of the Year is selected based on their body of work and potential for growth.

When to enter: Entries accepted until the end of July
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: Photographer of the Year wins €1,000, a feature in EyeEm Magazine and Format Magazine, and more.

Fine Art Photography Awards

Seeking “photos born out of passion,” the international contest is open to both amateur and professional photographers. With 20 different categories to select from, there is no shortage of artistic themes that will allow photographers to display their creativity.

When to enter: Annually; deadline is February 23, 2023
Entry fee: From $15 per photo
Prize: $3,000 for Professional Photographer of the Year, $2000 for Amateur Photographer of the Year.

bachirm, 1st prize winner Urban, 2017 International Drone Photography Contest. (Photo: bachirm)

Insight Astronomy Photographer of the Year

The world’s biggest astrophotography competition draws photographers from across the globe, who compete across nine different categories. Amateur and professional photographers are encouraged to apply for the contest, which is judged by representatives of NASA and the editor of BBC Sky at Night Magazine. Children are encouraged to apply in the special youth competition for photographers under 15 years old.

When to enter: Annually until early March
Entry fee: FREE up to 10 images
Prize: £10,000 for overall winner and £1,500 for overall category winners. Cash prizes are also given to category runners-up.

International Landscape Photographer of the Year

Celebrate the art and craft of landscape photography with this contest, which is open to photographers around the world. The top landscape photographs are collected into an annual book and photographers are awarded for best single images, as well as portfolios of four photographs.

When to enter: Entries close at the end of November
Entry fee: $25 per photo, every fifth photograph is free
Prize: Grand prize of $5,000 as well as inclusion in awards book. Second prize of $1,000 and third prize of $500, as well as photo book inclusion.

International Photo Awards

These prestigious awards cover a comprehensive range of photography and allow entries into separate Professional, Amateur, and Student competitions. From editorial and advertising to fine art and sports, this is one of the most wide-ranging contests, with over $22,000 in cash prizes annually.

When to enter: Entries close mid-July
Entry fee: $15-$35 per single image, $30-$60 per series depending on professional, amateur, or student status
Prize: International Photographer of the Year receives $12,000, Discovery of the Year Award $5,000, category winners (professional) win $1,000, and category winners (non-professional) win $500. All category finalist receive two tickets to the Lucie Awards Gala in New York City.

International Photographer of the Year

IPOTY is an international competition open to professional and non-professional photographers, who are asked to submit to a wide range of categories and subcategories. Photographers are encouraged to apply to multiple categories and receive exposure through extensive media coverage.

When to enter: Annually from mid-February to mid-December
Entry fee: From $20 per single image
Prize: Professional Grand Prize of $2,500, Amateur Grand Prize of $1,500

Melissa Amber & Ashley Nicole, Black & White Conceptual Series of the Year 2017, MonoVisions Photography Awards. (Photo: Melissa Amber & Ashley Nicole)

iPhone Photography Awards

The IPPA are awarded exclusively for images shot with an iPhone or iPad, with any postproduction limited to iOS apps. Photographers compete across 18 categories, including series of up to 3 images.

When to enter: Entries accepted until the end of March
Entry fee: From $3.50 per image
Prize: Grand Prize winner receives a prize that is TBA. The first place winner of each category receives a Gold Bar.

Mobile Photography Awards

Mobile and tablet photographers are encouraged to submit their best work across 18 categories to express the artistry and creativity of mobile photography. Top images are included in a traveling exhibition and are available for sale.

When to enter: Annually from October to mid-December
Entry fee: From $15 per image
Prize: Grand Prize of $3,000

Monochrome Photo Awards

This international black-and-white photography contest awards separate prizes to professional and amateur photographers for entries in 13 categories. From architecture and wildlife to fine art and photo manipulation, the awards challenge participants to show their creativity.

When to enter: Entries are accepted through early July
Entry fee: $20 per entry (amateur) / $25 per entry (professional)
Prize: Overall professional winner $3,000 and overall amateur winner $1,000. Winners are also featured in the Monochrome Photography Awards Annual Book.

MonoVisions

This black-and-white photography magazine holds an annual competition to celebrate the best of monochrome photography. Participants compete in two different sections, single photographs and series of up to 8 photographs.

When to enter: Entries are accepted through mid-May (early deadline is the end of January)
Entry fee: From $20 per single image / $25 per series
Prize: $5,000 in cash prizes

Danny Yen Sin Wong, 1st prize Open Color, Siena International Photography Awards 2016. (Photo: Danny Yen Sin Wong)

National Geographic Travel Photo Contest

Share your best snaps of life around the world in the National Geographic Travel Photo Contest. Three categories—Nature, People, and Cities—allow photographers to show how their travel imagery is revealing, transporting, and exciting.

When to enter: Annually from mid-March to the end of April
Entry fee: Starts at $10 per entry
Prize: Grand prize of $7,500. First place winners receive $2,500, second place $1,500, third place $750.

National Wildlife Photo Contest

For over 40 years, the National Wildlife Federation has run this prestigious competition celebrating the glory of nature. The eight categories include Birds, Reptiles and Amphibians, Mammals, and People in Nature.

When to enter: Annually from January to March
Entry fee: $20 for 10 photos
Prize: Grand prize of $5,000. First place category winners receive $500, second place category winners receive $250.

Nikon Small World Contest

This contest, which has been going for over 40 years, recognizes photography taken through the light microscope. It’s a leading showcase for photomicrographers from a variety of science disciplines. While participants aren’t required to use Nikon equipment, as images must be taken using a light microscope.

When to enter: Entries accepted until late-April
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: First prize $3,000. 2nd to 20th place winners receive cash prizes ranging from $200 to $2,000.

Red Bull Illume

Red Bull runs this international photography contest dedicated to action and adventure sports, which is also sponsored by Sony. The competition has been running every three years since 2007, with the next contest taking place in 2019. All finalist images participate in an international traveling exhibition.

When to enter: Entries accepted until late July
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: €100,000 in consumer goods and photography equipment to the overall winner and category winners.

Siena International Photo Awards

This international photo contest receives over 50,000 images from amateur and professional photographers. Whether Sports in Action or Story-telling, the categories allow photographers to show the best in their portfolio. Winners are announced at an annual ceremony in Siena, Italy.

When to enter: Annually from October to January
Entry fee: Professionals can enter one image for free and have to pay beyond that point.
Prize: €1,500 for Photo of the Year, €500 for Storyboard Winner. Photo of the Year, Storyboard Winner, and Category Winners receive stays in Siena, Italy during award ceremony weekend.

Sergey Gorshkov, Finalist, Animal Portraits, Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2017. (Photo: Sergey Gorshkov / Wildlife Photographer of the Year)

Smithsonian Photo Contest

Smithsonian.com has run their international photo contest for 15 years, asking photographers to submit their best photographs across six categories, including one for Mobile photography. Photo entries will be judged based on creativity, quality, originality, responsiveness to the prompt, and overall impact.

When to enter: Annually from early April to the end of November
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: $2,500 Grand Prize, $500 for Category Winners and Readers’ Choice award.

Sony World Photography Awards

For over a decade, Sony and the World Photography Organisation have run this competition, which unfolds in four sections—professional, open, youth, and student. Professional photographers are judged on a body of work, while the open competition awards single images. One of the world’s leading photo contests, the total prize fund is $30,000. All shortlisted photos participated in an exhibition at Somerset House in London and will be published in Sony World Photography Awards book.

When to enter: Entry deadline is between December and January depending on the competition section
Entry fee: FREE
Prize: $25,000 Photographer of the Year, category winners receive a trip to London for the awards ceremony.

Travel Photographer of the Year

Also known as TPOTY, this photographer-founded contest celebrates travel photography. The international competition culminates in an exhibition in London, selected from the 9 competition categories. These include Earth & Climate, Food, and Tales of Adventure.

When to enter: Entries accepted from April to October
Entry fee: Starts at £8 for single images; Youth competition is FREE
Prize: £5,000 and prize package for Overall Winner. Category and portfolios winners receive prize packages.

Underwater Photographer of the Year

Across 10 categories, underwater photography is heralded as an art form in this long-running competition. This is an international contest, though several categories are only open to images taken in the waters of the UK. The 2017 contest saw a new category—Underwater Photography Book.

When to enter: Annually from November to early January
Entry fee: Starts at £12 for three images
Prize: The Underwater Photographer of the Year gets first to pick something from the prize-pool featuring a variety of incredible awards.

Wildlife Photographer of the Year

The Natural History Museum in London runs this prestigious competition focusing on wildlife photography. Photographers are invited to submit their best work in 16 categories, such as Animals in their Environment, Urban Wildlife, and Behavior. There is also a separate youth competition.

When to enter: Annually from late October to mid-December
Entry fee: £30
Prize: £10,000 for Wildlife Photographer of the Year, £2,500 for Portfolio winner and Photojournalism Awards. Cash prizes for category winners.

This article has been edited and updated.

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Situated near Nieuwmarkt station in Amsterdam is a hidden gem for comic fans. Founded in 1968, Lambiek is the oldest comic shop in the world. And while it is well worth taking a trip to the Netherlands to see the brick-and-mortar location, the store offers another valuable resource for anyone interested in comic art: Comiclopedia. The site is Lambiek's online archive of over 14,000 comic artists from around the world—including famous names like Stan Lee and Charles Schultz.

The digital library was launched by Lambiek's founder Kees Kousemaker in 1999. Since then, the project has grown exponentially in the number of artists as well as in the organization of the content. If you visit the site, you will find that all of the information is arranged alphabetically; you simply find the surname of the artist and it will bring up a long page full of information and illustrations.

In addition to featuring the accomplishments of Marvel comic book writer Stan Lee and Peanuts comic strip creator Charles Schultz, the website includes other artists that are not as internationally renowned (outside of comic circles). Among them is French artist Jean Giraud—better known by his pseudonym Mœbius—who created expertly drawn science-fiction stories with elements of the surreal. Another major creator that you can find on the site is Albert Uderzo, who was the artist behind the Asterix comics written by René Goscinny. In addition, Comiclopedia also documents comic art made in their home country, like Tom Poes and Kapitein Rob.

Check out Comiclopedia's website to see even more comic art.

Comiclopedia is an online archive of comic art.

It features the art of 14,000 artists, including Stan Lee, Charles Schultz, and Mœbius.

The website was founded by Lambiek—an Amsterdam-based comic shop that happens to be the oldest surviving store of comics.

Watch this video to learn more about the history of Lambiek and Comiclopedia:

Lambiek: Website
h/t: [Open Culture]

All images via Lambiek | Comiclopedia.

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Why not indulge your inner chef and check out some dishes from the past? It's easier now than ever thanks to the Internet Archive, which has been digitizing vintage recipes from American history. From the late 1700s to the early 1900s, the ongoing collection now includes over 10,000 cookbooks. Best of all, they are free to view and download.

Perusing the vast library shines a light on the innumerable types of guides that exist. Some of the writing and topics of these resources underscore the differences between past audiences and those of the present. One such example that dates back to 1911 is titled The Cook Book of Left-Overs; a collection of recipes for the practical housekeeper. As the name suggests, it delves into useful ways of making use of extra food so as to not waste money for the employer. “In the average small family where there are no servants, or perhaps one servant, setting a table with the very least margin of ampleness means that there will inevitably follow some left-over food,” it says in the preface.

Other books have surprising relevance to today's market, such as the Vegetarian Cook Book, which was published in 1914. It might come as a surprise that this guide promotes the benefits of eating vegetables over meat, stating: “It is a recognized fact that the foundation of many of the ills of the human race is laid at the table through the eating of unwholesome food…as suggested by the name of the book, all meat recipes have been omitted, the superiority of other foods being recognized.” It then covers everything from bakery and breakfast dishes to puddings, and even how to correctly prepare fruits and nuts.

Check out the full collection of vintage recipes and cookbooks via the Internet Archive's Cookbooks and Home Economics section.

The Internet Archive has digitized over 10,000 vintage recipes and cookbooks in their Cookbooks and Home Economics section. They are free to view and download.

Internet Archive: Website 
h/t: [Open Culture]

All images via the Internet Archive.

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READ: You Can Download Over 10,000 Vintage Recipes and Cookbooks for Free

“The 3 Little Kittens” (1890) (Photo: Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Public domain)
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Children's literature has a rich history. Books written, illustrated, and published for young readers skyrocket in popularity during the 19th century. They have remained a mainstay of the publishing industry ever since. From primers meant to teach spelling and math to fairy tales, these books can tell historians and modern readers a lot about the mores of a given time. Now, anyone can explore over 7,000 historic titles online through the University of Florida’s Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature.

The online archive features countless books available for reading online or downloading. Many date to the 19th century, while others were published through the 1950s. Titles range from Pretty Little Stories for Pretty Little People to the classic Cinderella. Topics range from Biblical stories to school subjects to sweet animal tales.

Some may be of historic value. For example, the 1946 book My Dog Rinty is illustrated by black and white photography which offers a peek into a fictional little boy's world in 1940s Harlem. Written by Ellen Tarry—a Black journalist and author—and Caldecott-winner Marie Hall Ets, it tells the tale of a young boy named David trying to hold on to a dog who causes all kinds of trouble. It is depicted through photographs taken by a radical Russian Jewish immigrant photographer and his wife. Many books like this are out of print, but they represent moments that historians can mine.

Children's literature reflects what society wants to teach the young: the values, facts, and social norms of the time deemed essential for growing up. Looking back, these are not always the same as modern values. For example, in the 19th and 20th-century many children's books had imperialistic and racist themes, stereotyping non-white or non-Western people. Preserving these books and making them available online will help modern scholars studying American and British history. If children's books were not such important markers of social mores, there would not be the current culture war attempting to ban books addressing racism and LGBTQ+ identities. Changes in children's literature represent broader changes in culture, as well as our hopes for the future.

Book lovers of all ages looking for more to read should be sure to check out My Modern Met's many recommended book lists on topics including outer space, “how to draw”, art of all kinds, New York City, the history of photography, and architecture. You can also shop our favorites while supporting independent bookstores through our curated choices on Bookshop.org.

An online archive has over 7,000 historical children's books available to read or download.

“Denslow's Jack and the Bean-Stalk” (c. 1903) (Photo: Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Public domain)

These include fairy tales, gardening manuals, and picture books.

“The ABC of Nature” (c. 1884) (Photo: Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Public domain)

The books are made available through the University of Florida’s Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature.

“Whirligig Pictures” (c. 1893) (Photo: Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Public domain)

Throughout the past 200 years, children's books have represented social mores and hopes for the next generation.

“Acrobatic Animals” (c. 1899) (Photo: Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Public domain)

“New England Primer, Improved” (1815) (Photo: Baldwin Library of Historical Children’s Literature, Public domain)

h/t: [Open Culture]

Baldwin Library of Historical Children's Literature: Website

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READ: Read 7,000 Historic Children’s Books for Free in This Online Archive

Photo: Mint Owl

Practice is a vital part of perfecting your drawing skills. Learning the basics and repeating them over and over again is the only way to improve. For proof, just check out what a few years of drawing practice can do. It’s truly incredible the progress that you can make by dedicating time to this pursuit. Those who do have gone from scrawling simple figure sketches to fully-rendered portraits in seemingly no time.

Photo: EndOfAllHope

Although the best way to improve your drawing is to just get started, figuring out what to sketch can be challenging. Like all creative endeavors, everyone goes through “blocks” where they can’t figure out what to put pencil to paper. Well, have no fear! We’ve got a list of 100+ easy drawing ideas for you to try and fill up your sketchbook with. They range from everyday objects to fantastical cityscapes—we recommend trying a variety in order to flex every bit of your drawing muscle.

But First, Gather Your Supplies

Graphite Pencils

Investing in great supplies will help ensure that you expand your sketching capabilities. So, check out our recommendations for the best drawing pencils, best sketchbooks, and best type of paper. Although pencils are the most popular tools when it comes to drawing, charcoal is also fairly popular for those who like to sketch and do it fast. While working on drawings that have deep shadows, charcoal will offer rich black tones perfect for shading. You can check out our selection of the best charcoal pencil sets for artists.

Drawing Pens

Does your artwork depict intricate details? Try using a drawing pen. Pens offer consistent linework and precision. There is a pen for almost every type of linework, including sketching, cartooning, drafting, calligraphy, and more. Check out our picks for the best drawing pens. And if you’re looking to add color to your work, we’ve identified some of the best colored pencils to use, too.

Photo: Pixabay

Drawing Ideas That Anyone Can Try

Still Life Drawing Ideas You Can Find at Home

You don't have to go far to find inspiration for what to draw. Just look around your house for what to sketch. Every object is an opportunity for drawing. If you're feeling ambitious, try combining them into a still life.

• The interior of your living room
• A houseplant
• Kitchen utensils, like a whisk or slotted spoon
• A necklace, ring, or another piece of jewelry—try combining them in a still life
• House keys attached to a keychain
• An interesting knick-knack (or knick-knacks) off your shelf
• An interesting doorknob or door knocker
• Crumpled fabric or a pile of laundry
• An object in a glass dish
• Your dinner that night…
• … before you've prepared it (the ingredients)
• Collection of your favorite things
• A still life featuring old technology
• Your favorite condiment from your kitchen—be sure to draw the label
• Things that make you feel cozy
• Your most interesting pair of shoes
• The items on your coffee table
• The view from your window

Ocean Waves, Trees, and More: Creativity Inspired by Nature

Nature has long provided artists with inspiration for drawing. Trees and the sandy beach are both beautiful to look at and are also fun to draw. As you improve on your drawing, try revisiting these same subjects to see how differently they now look.

• Trees outside your window
• A fresh bouquet of flowers (try colored pencils with this one)
• A myriad of mushrooms
• A landscape scene from your favorite vacation
• Head to a park and draw what you see
• Your favorite tree
• A seashell or collection of seashells

Have a Lot of Fun Drawing People With These Ideas

People can be a daunting subject matter to tackle, but humans are exciting models to explore. From self-portraits to sketching the body, you'll never tire of these interesting and challenging ideas that revolve around people.

• Your self-portrait
• A famous person you admire
• Your feet (or someone else's feet)
• Your hands (or someone else's hands)
• A closeup of your eye
• Sketch someone on public transit
• A portrait of your significant other
• Someone who looks worried and is biting their lip
• What you're wearing today
• The back of someone's head
• Curly hair, from gentle waves to ringlets

More Great Drawing Ideas

• A furry friend (working from a photograph is probably best)
• The exterior of your favorite building
• A cute baby animal
• Fresh fruit that's been cut in half (citrus fruit works well)
• A cup of coffee and pastry from a local cafe
• Your favorite wild animal
• A spider in a spiderweb
• Play with perspective by looking straight up at a skyscraper or at a bridge
• Make a copy of your favorite painting or statue (bonus points if it's in a museum)
• Recreate scientific renderings of bugs or birds (such as John James Audubon)
• What you see from your car's rearview mirror
• Frog on a lily pad
• The view from a bridge—either from or underneath it
• The inner workings of a mechanical object (like a watch)
• A ballerina on their toes
• Draw your to-do list
• Find a receipt and draw one item that is on it
• Sketch the same subject in at least five different ways
• Document your day, each hour, as a comic
• Aerial view of your favorite place

Photo: Syda_Productions/DepositPhotos

Creative Drawing Ideas Inspired by Holidays

Get into the spirit when you sketch. Holidays have their own imagery that you can source when trying to think of something to draw.

Halloween Drawing Ideas

• A bat flying in the sky
• Your idea of a haunted house
• A massive spider web (you decide how big)
• Pumpkins with scary faces
• A group of witches brewing a boiling cauldron
• A spooky ghost that could live in your town
• A glamorous vampire and their vampire hunter nemesis
• Zombies walking through the city
• An old graveyard that is coming alive

Thanksgiving Drawing Ideas

• A cornucopia of different fall foods (like pumpkins and corn)
• Your favorite Thanksgiving dinner dish
• Colorful fall leaves falling from the trees
• A portrait of a turkey
• Something that you're thankful for

Christmas Drawing Ideas

• A Christmas tree decorated by you
• A portrait of Santa Claus and Mrs. Claus
• All of Santa's reindeer playing in the snow
• The biggest snowman that you can imagine
• Santa's sleigh with Christmas lights
• Your family as gingerbread people
• A snow globe containing a beautiful winter scene
• Your Christmas stocking (filled with goodies)
• A yard filled with candy canes

Photo: Javier Gonzalez

Drawing Ideas Inspired by the Imagination

Imagine Your World With a Dragon and a Rainbow

Draw the world that you want to see. If it's cloudy out, imagine a sunny day with a vibrant rainbow. Want a protective pet? Sketch what a friendly dragon would look like. With these ideas, the sky is the limit to what's possible on the page.

• Design the exterior of your dream house
• Now, the interior of your dream home
• Build your own castle
• What's at the end of the rainbow?
• Imagine life underwater
• Picture a home in outer space…
• … and the ship that will take you there…
• … and the creatures you'll meet
• A neighborhood of treehouses
• Superheroes in real life
• Your world in LEGOs
• M.C. Escher-style interior
• Imagine a city in outer space
• Imagine an album cover for a fictitious band (or real band)
• Make up your own flower—for an added challenge, make it a whole bouquet
• Make up a music band and draw their album cover
• Draw a new album cover for an existing musician
• Combine multiple animals into one creature

Cool Drawing Ideas Inspired by Fantasy

Fantasy is all about imagining things. We often think about it in terms of grand worlds like Lord of the Rings or Harry Potter, but at its core, fantasy is about picturing things that don't exist today.

• Imagine a wolf made of branches
• Combine two subjects that don't go together into one scene
• Draw a new fish tank for a fish
• Draw a still life in the Cubist style
• Everything in the world is topsy-turvey (up is down, down is up)
• Animal dressed like a human
• Give an object a face
• Mashup of two characters in pop culture
• A mad tea party
• A forklift lifting spaghetti and meatballs
• It's raining… (not water)
• Randomly select three words and draw what they mean together
• An animal holding a balloon
• A llama that's about to tap dance

Patterns and Other Easy Things to Draw

You don't have to draw dragons to exercise your imagination. If you like design, try creating your own patterns or filling a sheet of paper with stylized flowers. These ideas will get you started.

• Cover a sheet of paper with an array of flowers
• Fill a silhouette portrait with geometric designs
• Make your own pattern
• Many mandalas in different shapes and patterns
• Reimagine a famous pattern like paisley
• Illustrate a vivid dream you or someone else has had
• Render your favorite memory
• An unlikely pair of friends
• A drawing of a drawing
• Swap the scale of two subjects
• Illustrate the phrase “it's a small world”
• Illustrate the phrase “your head in the clouds”
• Illustrate part of your favorite song
• Illustrate an idiom in a literal way
• Your favorite video game character
• A cityscape in the lenses of sunglasses

For even more drawing prompts, pick up your copy of 642 Things to Draw!

Learn How to Execute Your Drawing Ideas Step by Step

Photo: rawpixel

While there are seemingly endless cool drawing ideas floating around, some of the most popular subjects tend to be nature-themed or revolve around the human figure. Get acquainted with how to draw them with some of the step-by-step guides below. You never know—learning to draw them might spark even more drawing ideas!

Drawing Animals

Photo: Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

How to draw a cat in two different ways — Whether you want to sketch countless tiny fur hairs or are looking to design the next Garfield, this guide will introduce you to basic cat anatomy and how to draw them in a realistic or stylized way.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Draw a tiger step by step — Ready to draw a big cat? Learn how to draw a tiger in 10 steps.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Learn how to draw a panda — Pandas are some of the most beloved animals on the planet, and it's easy to understand why. This tutorial will teach you how to draw a panda sitting while holding a shoot of bamboo.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Master drawing a cow lying down in a field — No depiction of a bucolic landscape is complete without a content cow, grazing away on some grass. Learn how to draw a cow with these step-by-step instructions.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Sketch a polar bear step by step — In this tutorial, we will go through the steps of sketching a polar bear walking through the arctic under a full moon.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Draw a sleeping arctic fox in nine steps — With their plush coats and charming personalities, it's no wonder foxes are among the most beloved animals on the internet. Now you can learn to draw one!

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Make your own drawing of a sea turtle — Follow this illustrated guide to learn how to draw a sea turtle in pencil and then go over it in ink.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Learn a bat step by step — Bats are often regarded as a symbol of Halloween and all things spooky. Learn how to draw a bat with these step-by-step instructions and illustrations.

Drawing Human Anatomy 

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

A “handy” guide to drawing hands — Drawing human anatomy is tricky, and the hands might be the most challenging body part of all. In this guide, we break down the internal structure of the hand and how you can articulate the bones and muscles under the skin. Follow these steps to bring your drawing to life.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Know your nose with this tutorial — Of all the facial features, the nose is one you might not give a lot of thought to. But don't ignore it—this feature helps define the face. We'll go over the anatomy of the nose and how you can draw it in a realistic way.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Set your sights on realism — Learning how to draw a realistic eye is all about understanding that it’s not just the pupil that makes it appear lifelike. The shape of the eye, the creases in the lid, and the eyelashes are also important in achieving likeness—and we'll go over all of it.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Perfect your portraiture in this tutorial — Portrait drawing has long had an important place in art history and remains a popular subject for contemporary artists. If you too are a creative who wants to carry on this tradition, it’s important that you know how to draw a face.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Learn to draw a skull — It’s a necessary and helpful exercise to learn how to draw a skull—even if you’ve rendered a portrait before. In this tutorial, we’ll look at the proportions of the head as well as an easy step-by-step process to sketching the bones.

Nature-Inspired Subjects

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Embrace the fall spirit and draw a pumpkin — Whether they're orange, green, smooth, or bumpy, pumpkins are synonymous with autumn. We've put together this step-by-step drawing tutorial that will help you draw a pumpkin in just a few steps.

Photo & Art: Margherita Cole | My Modern Met

Sketch a sunflower in nine steps — Channel Van Gogh's painting when you follow this step-by-step guide.

Photo & Art: Sara Barnes | My Modern Met

Learn how to draw a rose — The rose is an enduring symbol of love. Just as writers have spoken of its beauty, artists draw its delicate petals. But just because the rose is popular doesn't mean it's easy to sketch. Loaded with layers of petals, it can be a challenge. But have no fear—we break a rose drawing down so that it's both approachable and fun.

Interested in other blooms? Here's how to draw a variety of flowers —There are so many types of botanicals in the world that it’s impossible to learn how to draw each one. But once you understand the basic structure of a flower, you can use that knowledge to sketch any botanical you like.

Photo: Rawpixel

If you're itching to sketch all the things, check out the top drawing tutorials on YouTube. These artists will help you learn to draw for free. And if you're looking to empower your creative journey even further, check out our illustration courses on My Modern Met Academy.

Photo: Art: Melissa De Nobrega | My Modern Met Academy

Portrait Drawing for Beginners: Learn How to Draw Anyone You'd Like — Learn to draw facial features, characters, and people. Melissa De Nobrega breaks down one of the most complex subjects into bite-sized lessons where drawing the human face becomes simple and approachable.

Photo: Art: Demi Lang | My Modern Met Academy

Architectural Illustration for Everyone: Draw Buildings in Ink and Colored Pencil — Draw architecture like a pro with this course by Demi Lang. She'll take you step by step through the process of drawing buildings using ink and colored pencil.

Looking for others who love drawing? Join our Art, Design, Photography, and Drawing Club on Facebook!

This article has been edited and updated.

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READ: 100+ Drawing Ideas That Will Get You Sketching Right Now

Embed from Getty Images

Getty Images recently announced an initiative that aims to uncover Black stories that are traditionally left unseen and untold. With the launch of its new Black History & Culture Collection (BHCC), the global visual media company will now provide free non-commercial access to more than 30,000 historical images that highlight the history and culture of the Black diaspora in the U.S. and the UK. Photographs in the collection date as far back as the 19th century and span all the way to the present day.

The goal of the collection is to make these rarely seen images more easily accessible to educators, academics, researchers, and content creators in order to allow them to bring to light the untold stories of Black culture and history throughout the diaspora. Getty Images also partnered with several renowned researchers, historians, and educators to thoughtfully curate the Black History & Culture Collection from its vast archive of visual content.

“Getty Images is committed to making this historical content accessible to ensure a more authentic representation of world history and drive more meaningful dialogue,” says Cassandra Illidge, vice president of partnerships at Getty Images. “This collection was curated in partnership with a roster of prestigious historians and educators with the goal of providing unfettered access to historical and contemporary imagery which will help content creators who have been seeking an inclusive visualization of history.”

Organized by decade, starting in the 1800s and extending all the way to the 2020s, this collection covers everything from military and politics to sports, culture, art, and music. While featuring intriguing images of cultural icons like the famous American singer and actress, Eartha Kitt, and snapshots of renowned agricultural scientist and inventor, George Washington Carver, the collection also extends to scenes of everyday life and depicts lesser-known Black trailblazers as well. It offers a more nuanced view of Black lives throughout history, documenting everything from their joy and triumph to their perseverance, innovation, and even their pain and struggle.

“To be involved with the Black History & Culture Collection and work so closely with reframing access to these images made a tremendous impact on me personally and professionally,” says Dr. Deborah Willis of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, one of the experts who helped curate the collection. “It offered me ways in which to guide my students’ research projects and to show how the Black History & Culture Collection is an active/useful archive that can be used by artists, scholars, families, politicians, and students to recontextualize the past and give new meaning to images that have been largely unknown or underused.”

The Black History & Culture Collection is now available to view. However, you must apply to gain full access to the images for non-commercial use. Visit Getty Images to learn more about the free collection.

Getty Images recently announced an initiative that will grant free access to more than 30,000 historical images of the Black diaspora in the U.S. and the UK.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

Its aim is to uncover Black stories that are traditionally left unseen and untold.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

The collection dates back as far as the 19th century and extends all the way to the present day, documenting rarely seen moments in Black History.

Embed from Getty ImagesEmbed from Getty Images

Watch this video to learn more about the Black History & Culture Collection.

Getty Images: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | YouTube
h/t: [PetaPixel]

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READ: Getty Gives Public Access To 30,000 Images of Black History and Culture